Utecht signs offer sheet with Bengals
By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com
The Bengals today signed Colts tight end Ben Utecht to an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.
It is for a multi-year contract. Agent Chris Murray would not reveal the dollar amount. But there's another step in the process before Utecht would be a Bengal.
Indianapolis gave him a $927,000 one-year qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, which gives them one week to decide whether to match the offer sheet.
Utecht had 31 receptions for 364 yards (11.7-yard average) and one touchdown in 2007.
Career, he has 71 receptions and an 11.3-yard average with three touchdowns; 41 of his career receptions have resulted in first downs.
"We're very excited about it," Murray said of the Bengals' offer sheet. "It's what we consider above market for where he’s at. He has the potential to be a Dallas Clark-type player for Carson Palmer."
Clark is the Colts’ starting tight end and one of quarterback Peyton Manning’s favorite receivers.
With the Bengals, Utecht would provide a pass-receiving threat at tight end, complementing blocking-oriented starter Reggie Kelly.
The Bengals have two other tight ends under contract, Daniel Coats and Nate Lawrie.
Last month, in an interview with The Enquirer, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said the team was interested in finally drafting a receiving-oriented tight end. If the Colts chose not to match, the Bengals would not have to invest a draft pick in a tight end.
In 2007, Bengals tight ends combined for 32 receptions (Kelly, 20; Coats, 12) and no touchdowns.
Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who tied for the NFL lead with 112 receptions, often ran routes similar to what many tight ends perform – short and over the middle.
The Colts already have received official documents of the Bengals' offer sheet for Utecht, Murray said.
posted by Mark at 4:20 PM
32 Comments:
at 3/14/2008 4:35 PM 
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engelj06 said...
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Post a Comment*I think this is a great move for the Bengals. Bringing in Utecht would not only provide them with a pass catching tight end it would allow for them to address the defense once again in the draft.
PALMER, OVER THE MIDDLE, TD UTECHT
HUDEPOHL DEY
IT'S ON '08
Assuming the Colts don't try to match the offer sheet, this was a good strategic move by the Bengals. Utecht is young and healthy (unlike Crumpler), and in this offense he has the potential to only get better.
A potential positive development in Bengal-land. Congrats Mr. Brown.
With a decent TE, maybe well be able to score the 50 points a game necessary to keep up with the opponents walking all over our defense of also rans.
2 pennies more than Indy doesn't count to be outbid.Don't hold your breath Bengals fans on this one.
I expect to see Utecht in a COLTS uni,NOT A Bengals uni.They will raise the bid higher,as do smart owners that want depth.MB will be outbid again,trust me.
Bengals spokesman comment's-
"MB has always thought if he could outbid a team in pennies instead of dollars,he could save outrageous amounts of capitol.He likes to make the fans think he's trying to put a better team together through hard nosed business decisions ,but really he's just trying to save more money for himself.More money for him means better leadership from the top,this is the road to success for MB & his success speak volumes in the ranks of NFL owner's".
Good play for sure. Hopefully it sticks. Now the just need to sign Larry Triplett and I'll be content.
Good signing. Now if we could just get Takeo and Robertson, we'd have something to get excited about.
At least now we don't have to draft a tightend. Fix that defense and beef up the o line.
Just saw a mock draft on cbssports and it has an interesting move by the bengals trading up with KC for McFadden, which would be an interesting move... any thoughts
FINALLY, something I can be positive about! I have been a bit negative with my post, but rightly so. Now though, this is a very good move and I must applaud it. We have good TE, and I did not want to see us waste an early-mid round pick on one. This signing gives us a proven pass catcher, who is still young, and will allow us to focus on real needs in the draft.
Who ever is responsible for this one.....GOOD JOB!
tommac: I sure hope not!
Of all the needs we have, RB is at the bottom of the list. Yeah we have had injuries, but guys do come back. And drafting another RB doesn't solve anything, he could get hurt just the same (i.e Kijana Carter). We have a stable of RB, and they are good, when Irons comes back we will be in great shape. KENNY WATSON does not get the props he should!!
If Cincy wants to pick up a 6th or 7th round guy to mold and play some special teams that is fine, but NO WAY DO WE DRAFT ANOTHER RB!
How do you feel about it, what would your main focus be?
If Mark does a post on the draft sometime, I would love to list mine. I have put a lot of time into it, although I am a nobody, my last 4 drafts have had 8 players the Bengals could have had but didn't and they went on to start (and produce) for Conference final teams or play in the pro bowl. BIG DEAL, I know but it was fun to be right.
It's about time the Bengals started picking up players from good teams instead of used up players off of bad teams. Good Job, Katie Blackburn. Then again, can he tackle? The defense is just as bad as it was.
Unfortunately, this sounds an awful lot like when the Bengals drafted Matt Schoebel in the 3rd round a few years ago. Big statements and good intentions of getting him the ball, but it never materialized except for 2 game winning catches against the Steelers and Cowboys, both down the middle of the field. The knock on Schoebel was that he couldn't block. Hope Utecht brings good blocking ability or he will be another 3rd down tight end that is being paid starter money.
firefly118 if you want to post your mock, go to the following address, sign up (Free) and post your mock in the mock draft forum. We would love to see it.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=28
"I expect to see Utecht in a COLTS uni,NOT A Bengals uni.They will raise the bid higher,as do smart owners that want depth.MB will be outbid again,trust me."
Smart owners? If those smart owners really wanted to keep him they would have offered Utecht $1.4 million. That way if another team signs Utecht the Colts would receive a 2nd round pick in return. Instead the Colts will receive nothing.
ReddLegg: If the reports are true, they suggest that we outbid by about 800 million pennies over three years, not 2. Also considering the major deal the Colts made with Dallas Clark and the fact that they have four TE's on the roster besides Utecht, I'd be suprised if they matched the offer. But we'll just have to wait and see.
To Reddlegg people like you are what is wrong with sports in this area, they want to whine and complain about things they don't know. If the Colts match the Bengals offer on Utecht they will be paying over 10 million against the cap on the TE position for 2008. Find me another team that does that, i dare you.
This move isn't about the Bengals being cheap they have to "outbid" not the colts but other teams to get this TE, if the bengals were cheap they would just stick with their backups they already have signed for the league minimum.
Know what you are talking about before you look ignorant.
Let me tell everyone something:
This is a GREAT move by the Bengals! Utecht is a decent blocker and way better than average receiver for a tight end. I live in Indianapolis (although I am a Bengals' fan) and Utecht had trouble getting on the field because of Dallas Clark. When he did, he made the most of his opportunities. It would not surprise me for the Colts to match, but I don't see it happening. Their salary cap is a mess.
And, Spikes is still NOT the answer. Move away from him. Go get a good defensive end in the draft and the defense will not be too far away. Oh, and Chad Johnson is still an idiot.
Great pickup for us. It works out well because we can pick up defensive players via the draft. With a new defensive coordinator and possibly Odell and Pollack, what happens if we draft 5-6 defensive guys (including one in the first or second round)??? My guess is that at least 2 of their picks would make an instant impact on defense. Call me crazy, but I think Ahmad Brooks can play if he stays healthy...
I think they made a serious offer to Utecht, and it sounds like he can block and catch (I believe Indy likes their TE's to do both) I'm not sure how much Cap room the Bengals have left if the deal goes through, but it doesn't sound like a whole lot. I don't even know if they could sign a top 5 pick in the draft. Indy will have a hard time matching since they only have about 7 mil of room and his contract would take up at least 3 of it from the rumored details.
Kudos to the Bengals! I can't knock them for lack of effort in FA this year. It does appear they have a plan this year. The attempted moves for the DT's in the first week of FA was quite unfortunate. I, for one, ripped them for many of the things they did or failed to do. It's nice to finally be able to look at them this off-season with a little hope!! I do hope they stay away from a RB in the first day. As good as a RB as McFadden is, it's not a very high priorty. Irons is still quite away from 100%. I know I could live with Watson and Dorsey as a 1-2 in this offense. Rudy? Are the miles adding up? Perry? Can't count on his health. We all know the Bengals NEED a very good DT. These early mock drafts are a guess like yours and mine. It would be nice to see the Bengals move up and get Ellis. At this time of year, it's quite foreign for me to say "Nice job Mikey and staff!!" Hope the offer sticks.
Tommac: I would mirror firefly's comments about McFadden. Its tempting to have a home run hitter like that, but in my opinion, there should be no offensive players drafted on day one. I think they are in a great position to make a move on Ellis or Dorsey and if they are ever going to be sucessful on defense, they have to build it around good D-linemen.
I like the Utecht move, it gives them more flexibility on draft day. Utecht is tough, possibly a step up from the Schoebel days. Reddleg in Colorado has an interesting point, lets just hope that he's wrong about this one.
Anyone have an update on the health of Kenny Irons? I havent heard much about his rehab at all.
The addition of Utecht is going to pose REAL problems for the opposition as long as the line protects Palmer....Now focus on re-building the defense. I sure hope the Bengals cut Dexter Jackson. I don't know who was the worst tackler on "D", Jackson or M. Williams. Good for the Bengals for letting go of Williams. He's a class act but a poor tackler. Now it's Jackson's turn to "hit the door"! The offense looks somewhat set. They could use another OT. Glad our Bengals finally have a plan. I just wish someone on that team steps up and shows some leadership. The first step would be for someone like Big Willie to pick up Chad Johnson and pin him up against the lockers and tell him to keep is "Golden Grill" shut and just play the game!!! Who Dey!!!
They DO NOT need another OT, jeez. anderson,jones,whitworth,andrews... those are pure tackles, some play out of position.
I agree with you guys who responded to my comment about trading up for McFadden, I hope they do trade up, for Dorsey or Ellis, if they feel they might be gone by #9... KC is probably a willing contender to trade down, they want an OT, and can get one cheaper at 9 and gain a pick...
Actually Anon 1:04, it's people like you. Those who cry foul aren't the ones who have enabled Mike Brown to absolutely obliterate this franchise. It's the apologists like yourself. Your words:
"if the bengals were cheap"
So who looks ignorant?
Good
Another great piece to our stellar defense. Oh that's right we don't care about defense and that is why we usually lose 45-42 because we can't stop people on our defensive line.
I have a great idea why dont all of you haters start rooting for another team.I know that most of you guys just want something to complain about ,but look at the big picture if this goes through we finally have a receiving tight end that we haven't had since Tony Mcgee without giving up any draft picks.therefore we can use our picks to add to our defense.Duh
I love this move and heard the Interview with Utecht on Sirius and loved that too. I don't think that Indy will match it, but we will see come Friday. Carson needs more quality targets and since we really don't have an idea where Chad's head is these days it is a great offensive move. Here's to Sed Ellis dropping to #9!!!
Is there any truth to the poster saying that bengals are so close to cap that we might not be able to sign our high picks? I thought we had plenty of space to maneuver.
Thanks Zack.Most people are pleased w/medoicority,while fans like you I ,do not.We want results & we want them NOW.
I'm a tired of of excuses from clueless fans,inept business decisions,terrible play calling, a poor defense,large egos that cause distractions,a coach that laughs off losess,& etc...
You get my point......
Dear Zach and Redlegg I'm not an apologist i'm just sick of crybaby fans who just want to complain no matter what the bengals do just to hear themselves talk.
Like I said before "if" the Bengals were cheap why would they sign a TE at the same salary as their other TE when they could have kept the minimum salary guys they already had.
BTW Reddlegg how can you call anyone else a clueless fan when you have no idea how the restricted free agency works. The bengals signed him to 3 million, the Colts not even one. The Colts can not "out bid" the Bengals only match what they offered him, which they will not since they don't have the cap room to do so.
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